It's my late grandpa's birthday today, but our family usually celebrates it a day before. There's a religious feast being celebrated a day before his birthday, so we celebrate both events together. It has always been this way even when my grandpa was still alive.
My grandpa died around 13 years ago, but my family continued to celebrate his birthday every year after that. I'm not sure if it's done in other countries, but most people in the Philippines continue to celebrate their dear departed's birthday. It's like a way of saying that our dear departed loved ones will forever stay in our hearts.
My parents and I live quite far from my grandparents' place (father's hometown). We need to travel by bus and by ship in order to get there since it's in another island. The pandemic didn't make it any easy to go home, but we still had a small celebration at home while our relatives celebrated in our hometown.
Mama and papa cooked this yesterday and we had it for lunch as our celebration for my late grandpa's birthday. We also offered him some prayers and reminisced our days with him. He played a really big role in our life that even years after his death, we still enjoy reminiscing the days we've spent in the past.
As for me, I painted this portrait of grandma as a little tribute to him. I posted the process yesterday. If you're interested, you can check it out here --> https://peakd.com/hive-174301/@tegoshei/a-little-tribute-to-my-granpa-in-heaven-happy-birthday-lolo-nono-3 .
As I've mentioned earlier, our family or relatives in my father's hometown had a celebration as well. My younger cousin sent us some pictures which I will be sharing here below.
We sent some money for them to buy a cake for grandpa... so they shared two different cakes. I guess one of my cousins also bought the other one. <3
It's our grandma. I miss her! We haven't seen each other since the pandemic started but we usually have phone calls or video calls when we have more time. It would be nice to spend time with her and other relatives again soon!
Since today is my grandpa's actual birthday, my uncles went to his grave and sent us some photos. Only my uncles went there since it would be a bit risky for grandma to go out.
In behalf of the whole family, they lit some candles on grandpa's grave. They also sent our regards to grandpa. haha Before the pandemic, the whole family usually go there to visit grandpa. We also pour a bottle of beer beside his grave, so he could enjoy it. lol
I do hope we could visit there again.
Do you also celebrate your departed loved one's birthday? Please tell me in the comments. ^^
